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Unbelievable…………..another Saturday and another top four table clash for Celtic, their sixth in the past 7 weeks. For sure, life is never boring if you’re a supporter of Castleknock Celtic. Home Farm were the opposition and familiarity was the key word here. Over the past 5 seasons these teams have gone toe to toe in League and Cup encounters and while Celtic have edged this season's encounters, there’s never more than a goal separating the sides.
Knowing each other so well, both teams started cautiously with no real pattern to the game. Both defences were on top with both teams limited to long range shots. However, Farm were unlucky not to score when their midfielder hit a thunderous shot against the cross bar. Moments later Celtic took the lead when a speculative ball found Sean Blood who burst through and his left footed shot was past the keeper and into the right hand corner. 1-0. Moments later it was 1-1. Farm attacked forcing a good save from Tommy Bowe who parried the ball to his right. Credit to Farm's striker who never gave up as he retrieved the ball from the endline before firing in a vicious cross that was deflected by a Celtic player into the net. HT: 1-1
The second half start mirrored the first with Farm’s hard work edging possession in their favour. Changes were needed. Leigh Reilly was summoned from the bench. His movement up front immediately made a difference. A lovely ball from Eric Hannon set Reilly loose. He outpaced his marker but the ever alert Farm keeper was off his line making a great block to deny the Celtic striker. Moments later Reilly was through again but once more the Farm keeper was alert. However just as Celtic seemed to have gained supremacy in terms of possession Farm pounced. While there was a suspicion of offside there was no argument with the classy finish. Moments later it could have been three were it not for a wonderful double save from Bowe. However even he could not deny Farm. Another questionable offside but another quality finish made it 1-3. Celtic were in disarray. More changes were made – Tony Kamara in a 3 man strike force and Franc Ajunomah on to bolster the defence. 15 mins to go and nothing to lose. Celtic upped their efforts but without the necessary guile or intelligence to open up Home Farm.
The clock was running down, 5 minutes left, magic was needed and magic was what we got. Mark Hughes played the ball out left. Tony Kamara took it on. Nathan O’ Reilly was screaming on the overlap but Tony saw something. A look up, a touch forward and a sublime ball, the pass of the day, into the danger area. He saw what nobody else did………………………Leigh Reilly bursting into the box and with a crisp right footed volley it was 2-3. What a goal and with it hope. Celtic pressed and pressed. As we entered the last minute a Hannon free kick was cleared but immediately floated back in. The Farm keeper came but the ball slipped from his grasp. Kamara was on it, a turn but just as he pulled the trigger a last minute tackle dispossessed him. A scramble for the ball but Big Franc was on it to see it into the net 3-3 and Celtic had just completed The Great Escape as the Referee blew the final whistle. FT: 3-3
OK, let’s be clear. This game was not a classic. Celtic were poor, Home Farm were the better organised team and at 3-1 deserved to and should have seen the game out. Celtic got lucky but then again you make your own luck. Character and three Super Subs saw the Celts earn a share of the spoils. For sure THREE was the magic number to-day. THREE ALL thanks to the game changing of THREE Super Subs (aka Ajunomah, Kamara and Reilly) that earned Celtic a draw on a special occasion that saw Celtic Captain, Mark Hughes play his THREE HUNDREDTH game at Schoolboy level in Celtic colours. Well done Mark.
